Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2016-2031)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 4.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €17.2bn in 2026.
Trends and Insights
Animal raising farmers struggle with labour shortages
- According to Teagasc’s Input Prices 2025 report, the standout issue for farmers is labour costs, which are a key driver of input price inflation, outweighing reductions in other input categories, including energy.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2026-2031)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Export reliance will deepen as domestic meat and dairy demand plateaus
- According to Teagasc, meat and milk demand in Ireland is set to remain relatively high over the next decade, supported by population growth and solid disposable incomes. However, underlying consumption growth looks modest, as health, climate, and animal-welfare concerns will weigh on red-meat and full-fat dairy intake.
Biggest companies in the Raising of Animals in Ireland
| Company | Market Share (%)
2026 | Revenue (€short_0)
2026 |
|---|
There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Raising of Animals in Ireland industry.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Cattle for slaughter, Sheep for slaughter and Poultry for slaughter. Cattle for slaughter is the largest segment of the Raising of Animals in Ireland.
Trends and Insights
Irish milk production continues to recover, supporting farmers’ revenue
- Milk is the single largest output component of Ireland’s livestock sector, with milk’s €4.5 billion value accounting for the majority of market output from cattle enterprises linked to dairy.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Farmers in the industry raise, breed and sell animals, including cattle for meat and milk production, sheep, pigs and poultry. The industry also includes egg production on poultry farms. Raising of horses is not included in the industry.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Raising of Animals industry in Ireland include Cattle for slaughter, Sheep for slaughter, Poultry for slaughter, Pigs for slaughter, Milk, Eggs and Wool.Companies
Companies covered in the Raising of Animals industry in Ireland include .Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Raising of Animals industry in Ireland include processor, farm-gate milk price, automatic milking systems, battery cages and dairy beef index.Industry Code
SIC 01.4 - Raising of Animals in Ireland
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Robust export growth supports farmers’ revenue. Since Ireland produces a lot more meat and milk than it consumes, export markets are crucial for revenue and sustained growth....
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Employees, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Businesses, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
- Profit, including historical (2016-2026)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Dairy product manufacturers are a major market. Milk is one of the industry’s more important products. Despite growing competition from vegan milk options, a strong demand fo...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
- International Trade
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2026
- Product innovation level
- Total imports, level and trend
- Total exports, level and trend
- Trade Balance
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2026
- Major market segmentation in 2026
- International trade, including imports by country and exports by country
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
- Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Land conditions are key for animal farmers. The Border, Midland and Western regions hold a lot of establishments because they offer high-quality grazing grass and favourable ...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2026
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2026
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2026
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2026
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2026
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
High industry fragmentation means price competition is strong. Dairy farmers are basically forced to sell their goods at market prices to keep sales flowing, so keeping costs...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2021-2026
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Raising of Animals in Ireland industry.
Analyst insights
There are no major players in the Animal Raising industry. It’s highly fragmented, with most farms being family-owned and none generating more than 1% of industry revenue. Th...
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The Common Agricultural Policy is key to revenue. Payments made to farmers through the Basic Payment Scheme help ensure income stability and remunerate farmers for environmen...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2016-2031)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2016-2031)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Profit is inching up as cost pressures wane. Following a very challenging period in 2022 and 2023, as soaring input prices squeezed profit, farmers are taking a breath in 202...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2016-2031)
- Revenue per Employee (2016-2031)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- Employees per Establishment (2016-2031)
- Employees per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- Average Wage (2016-2031)
- Wages/Revenue (2016-2031)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2016-2031)
- IVA/Revenue (2016-2031)
- Imports/Demand (2016-2031)
- Exports/Revenue (2016-2031)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2016-2031)
- IVA (2016-2031)
- Establishments (2016-2031)
- Enterprises (2016-2031)
- Employment (2016-2031)
- Exports (2016-2031)
- Imports (2016-2031)
- Wages (2016-2031)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Raising of Animals industry in Ireland in 2026?
The market size of the Raising of Animals industry in Ireland is €17.2bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Raising of Animals industry in Ireland in 2026?
There are 87,419 businesses in the Raising of Animals industry in Ireland, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.3 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Raising of Animals industry in Ireland?
The Raising of Animals industry in Ireland is likely to be impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Raising of Animals industry in Ireland?
The Raising of Animals industry in Ireland is likely to be impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.
Has the Raising of Animals industry in Ireland grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Raising of Animals industry in Ireland has been growing at a CAGR of 4.1 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Raising of Animals industry in Ireland over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Raising of Animals industry in Ireland is expected to grow.
What does the Raising of Animals industry in Ireland include?
Cattle for slaughter and Sheep for slaughter are part of the Raising of Animals industry in Ireland.
How competitive is the Raising of Animals industry in Ireland?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Raising of Animals industry in Ireland.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Ireland include:
- Central Statistics Office
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Irish Tax & Customs
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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